Deadly Machete Robbery at Johor Petrol Station: 1 Dead, 3 Arrested

 

On July 3, 2025 at approximately 12.10am, a violent robbery attempt took place at a petrol station near the Second Link Expressway in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Four masked men armed with machetes ambushed a parked vehicle, smashing its windows in what appears to have been a well-coordinated attack. The incident was captured on closed-circuit television and the footage quickly circulated online.

In response to the aggression, one of the vehicle’s occupants fired several rounds at the assailants, forcing them to flee. The attackers chose two different escape paths three retreating to a getaway vehicle, and one fleeing on foot.

Staff at Hospital Sultanah Aminah informed Johor police chief Commissioner M. Kumar about 1.40 am that a man had arrived at the hospital entrance with multiple gunshot injuries. CCTV showed two individuals leaving the wounded man at the hospital before departing in a dark vehicle at high speed. The victim, confirmed deceased after a post-mortem examination, was a 42-year-old local from Sungai Petani, Kedah, with a prior criminal record consisting of four previous convictions. Gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen were cited as the cause of death. Authorities have not confirmed whether the deceased was one of the attackers.

Later on July 3, around 7pm, a joint operation by Johor police headquarters and Iskandar Puteri district police led to the arrests of three suspects aged between 30 and 40: two Malaysian citizens and one Indian national. The arrests took place in Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur. During the operation, authorities seized the upper receiver of a Glock 19 pistol, related ammunition, bullet casings, a licensed firearm permit, and a dark-coloured vehicle believed to have been used during the hotel attack. One suspect was identified as a licensed personal bodyguard; further investigations are underway to determine if the firearm was used lawfully.

The police are conducting investigations under multiple provisions: Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, Section 148 for rioting armed with deadly weapons, and Section 39 of the Arms Act 1960 for unsanctioned discharge of a firearm. Officers are tracing the deceased’s ties to the suspects and identifying any additional perpetrators associated with the robbery attempt.

Commissioner Kumar stressed that despite the severity of the attack, there is no indication of any larger criminal network threatening public safety in the area. He appealed for the public to avoid speculation or spreading misinformation. Anyone with relevant information has been urged to contact the Johor police hotline.